UNDER THE KEYBOARD

Remember when passwords were simple?  You had one.  Maybe two if you were particularly security conscious. And where did you keep them? On a little piece of paper tucked under your keyboard, of course. For years, that seemed perfectly reasonable. We weren't protecting the nuclear codes. We were trying to get into AOL.

Then the internet grew up, and suddenly we needed passwords for EVERYTHING. Email. Amazon. The bank. The library. Facebook. Netflix. The pharmacy. The doctor's office. The electric company. Every store where we bought a pair of socks once in 2014.

Naturally, many of us used the same password for everything. That turned out to be a VERY BAD IDEA.

So the experts told us every account needed a different password. And not just any password. It needed an uppercase letter, a lowercase letter, a number, a symbol and presumably the maiden name of our third-grade teacher's hamster.

Eventually password managers arrived. I was a relatively early convert and now use 1Password. Instead of remembering dozens — okay, probably hundreds — of passwords, it remembers them for me. Progress!

Then came two-factor authentication. You enter your password. The website essentially says, "We don't believe you.” So it sends a six-digit number to your phone. You retrieve the number, go back to the website and type it in. "Fine," the website says. "You may enter." And now, just when I thought I understood the rules, apparently passwords themselves are on their way out.

Welcome to the age of the PASSKEY.

I read a fascinating NYT Wirecutter article about passwords and passkeys this week and discovered I've apparently already been using passkeys without giving them much thought.

Instead of typing a password, you prove you're you the same way you unlock your phone or computer — with your face, fingerprint or PIN.

I already use Face ID for all sorts of things, including Apple Cash. (I recently told Mr. 12 that when I die, he'd better hang onto my body for a while so he can keep holding my phone up to my face to send himself money). (He seemed remarkably untroubled by this plan).

Which brings us to passkeys.

Behind the scenes, some very clever cryptography takes place. I do not understand the clever cryptography. I do not NEED to understand the clever cryptography. This may be my favorite part.

The important thing is that a passkey is much harder for the bad guys to steal because there isn't a password for us to accidentally give them. And we don't have to remember anything.

Passkeys aren't everywhere yet, so for a while we're going to live in a strange hybrid world of passwords, password managers, verification codes, Face ID and passkeys.

But I like where this is headed. Think about the journey. We started with one password written on a scrap of paper under the keyboard. Then we needed 147 passwords no normal human could possibly remember.

So we invented software to remember them for us. Then we added another step to prove we were really us. And now we're inventing a system where we don't have to remember a password at all.

It only took about 30 years to get there.

Of course, I haven't thrown away 1Password. I'm not THAT brave. Besides, somewhere in America right now, there's still a website asking:

What was the name of your first pet?

And somewhere else there's probably still a little piece of paper under a keyboard.

Some technology dies harder than others.

Tiny Things

Life doesn't always require grand gestures.  Sometimes it's a greeting card saved for just the right moment. A text that simply asks “how are you doing today?” A heart emoji. A voicemail.

This week I mailed my sister a card that said, You're My Person. I don't even remember exactly what I wrote inside. Probably something about sharing life's good days and the hard ones, too.  A little background.  A few months ago they found a bug on the wall.  Took a pic and looked it up … termite!  An exterminator put up a plastic bag in the corner of the wall and the ceiling and every day another termite.

While the Bug Man was there, he noticed a carpenter ant. And there is never just one.  Apparently there was a leak around their chimney after it had been repaired following a lightening strike a couple of years ago. Millions men and workers and experts and continued bad news since.

A day later my phone buzzed with a photo of the card and one little ❤️.  Then came a voicemail. She told me she had been having one of those days when getting dressed felt like too much work. She didn't want to go outside. She didn't even want to cook. Then my card arrived.

It didn't solve any of her problems.  It didn't make anything magically better. But for a little while, it reminded her that she wasn't carrying them alone.

On Monday I texted my friend Linda, (who works the WLLO Office each week) and casually asked how her weekend was. Not so good.  Her little dog was attacked by a much larger dog while they were walking on Cannon Beach.  The big dog WAS leashed but pulled free, dragging his leash.  Scooby is an 8 lb love bug and usually joins our Zoom meetings.  He was mauled horribly with a vet visit every other day. Currently he is in the hospital.

Scooby is healing slowly and so is Linda.  She told me she prefers texting because talking still brings tears. But having someone ask each day...helps.

It struck me that none of these things took more than a minute. A card. A text. A voicemail.

Just a reminder that someone is thinking about you.

We sometimes wait until we have enough time to do something meaningful.  Maybe meaningful is usually much smaller than we imagine. Maybe the tiny things are the big things.

If someone came to mind while you were reading this...

You already know what to do.

P.S. 

We still had a yellow zucchini left from last week, so I used it to make a small zucchini bread (5"x5" casserole pan, recipe from OneDishKitchen) for my neighbors and a loaf pan size for us.

SEARCH IT UP!

Just me, here.  Awkwardly learning new lingo.  

Wait... when did we start saying that?  Weren't we just saying "Google that" to find information?  Now we search ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, Google Scholar, Perplexity AI, Grok, Midjourney, ElevenLabs, Zapier AI, and Hugging Face.

Now they say "search it up." Apparently Google has become just one place to search. Somewhere between ChatGPT, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, and who-knows-what-comes-next, the language quietly changed while I was busy figuring out my iPhone.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/magazine/google-it-search-it-up.html?unlocked_article_code=1.0lA.tMA7.pa5xAVeQdXvR&smid=url-share

An advantage to living with teenagers, I get to hear about new words and terms.  Apparently only Boomers say "Google that".  There are so many resources to check when looking for facts and information.

Interesting fact, we're moving from typing keywords to asking full questions. Instead of "Lake Oswego weather"
people increasingly type "Will I need a jacket for soccer tonight?"

Remember hard back dictionaries?  Impossible in the 2020's. Our English language changes so much now that a printed book is out of date as soon as it is printed.

Words that felt new in the 1950s.  Among the additions highlighted in accounts of Webster’s Third were:

astronaut

beatnik

drip-dry

McCarthyism

radiocarbon

solar house

zip gun

Those words are practically a miniature history of the era: space travel, the Beat Generation, modern fabrics, politics, nuclear science, suburban innovation and juvenile crime.

Other expressions first recorded or popularized around the decade included:

rock-and-roll

fast food

credit card

do-it-yourself

artificial intelligence

computerize

fallout

brainwashing

transistor radio

birth control pill

sit-in

get-go

Then: Editors gathered evidence for decades, published a massive new edition and announced 100,000 additions at once.

Now: Online dictionaries add smaller groups regularly—sometimes hundreds or thousands—so we hear about each crop of terms such as doomscroll, rizz or cold brew. Merriam-Webster’s 2025 printed Collegiate edition, for example, added more than 5,000 words after a 22-year gap between major print revisions.

As someone who's watched English evolve over seven decades, I have a perspective that younger people simply don't. They think "brain rot" has always been a phrase. I remember when TV remote, microwave, ATM, email, cell phone, blog, selfie, and now prompt didn't exist.

The English language isn't getting worse. It's just getting older along with us—and picking up new friends every decade.

And don't even get me started on the Urban Dictionary!!  (Go take a peak)!

SUMMER TIME ... and the living is busy

Summer weather has finally arrived in Lake Oswego.  Cool enough at night to leave the front door open and heavy duty screen door locked.  We have only had to use our bedroom a/c so far since it cools off so much (55).  AND we (knock on wood) have great air quality and low humidity.  Perfect weather for me!

The Gramma Uber has had requests almost every day.  Mr. Almost 16 is pretty self sufficient as many of his friends have older siblings to help out.  Mr. 12 has become very social since he started middle school.  Fortunately, all live in our little town.  I volunteer to drive as we cannot have sleep overs.  Although I did have to make a new rule ... when I drop you off, it must be for three hours.  Once I picked up a friend, two other friends were there and I took them to Bridgeport Village (outdoor mall) and 90 minutes later "Gramma? Can you pick me up"  I had stopped at a drive thru Starbucks on my way home and had barely been there when he called!  And I picked up only Mr. 12 as he had soccer practice and everyone else could linger longer.

My WLLO volunteer work has increased and we are learning a new software system.  Old lady brain overload.  I've also been invited to write an article for our monthly Newsletter.  Our Chairperson has no moss under her feet as they travel far and wide in all manners of ways, for weeks at a time.  Her husband has a progressive health issue so they are cramming it all in.  

Some great news!  Instead of our Farmer's Market, I joined our local CSA.  It is only 3 miles from home where our community garden plots are.  The offerings:

Spring: Head Lettuce, Salad Mix, Spinach, Arugula, Dill, Carrots, Radishes, Turnips, Fennel, Scallions, Cabbage, Chard, Baby Bok Choy, Broccolini, Summer Squash, Zucchini, and Beets

Early Summer: Head Lettuce, Salad Mix, Spinach, Parsley, Basil, Cilantro, Dill, Carrots, Turnips, Fennel, Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale, Chard, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Beets

Late Summer: Potatoes, Jalapeños, Serranos, Head Lettuce, Salad Mix, Carrots, Basil, Cilantro, Dill, Kale, Onions, Shallots, Corn, Tomatoes, Cucumbers Bell Peppers, Red Italian Peppers, Eggplant, Cantaloupe, Honeydew, and Watermelon

Fall: Head Lettuce, Salad Mix, Spinach, Arugula, Radicchio, Orange Carrots, Rainbow Carrots, Radishes, Turnips, Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Purple Cauliflower, Romanesco, Brussels Sprouts, Chard, Celery, Collards, Baby Bok Choy, Leeks, Beets, and Parsnip 

  

 

Thursday was my first adventure.  No one walked me through so I mistakenly took more than I was supposed to.  There were long tables set up in a barn (the whole area is City owned venture with garden plots, cooking classes, camps for kids and adults, farm to table evening dinners and the Farmer's Market style CSA).  Some tables had just one item, some tables had two and a few tables had three items.  Apparently, since I have the Mini, I was to choose ONE item.  (The 1/2 meant 1/2 pound)

This week I'll know a little more.  The first night I roasted radishes, broccoli and turnips accompanied by sliced tomato, sliced cucumbers (which aren't even on the above list) and sliced turnips.  I added a few tiny fresh mozzarella balls and that was dinner.  The next night I made a huge salad topped with roasted veggies.

I have chard and no clue how to make it kid friendly!  Stay tuned on that.  My sister is mostly vegetarian and very adventuresome in her cooking, so she will help (she sent me a NYT recipe with three spices I had never heard of).  In case you are wondering, it works out to about $22 a week.  There are also some add-on choices ... salad lover (a bigger second bag of lettuces)(to which I did subscribe), and this week eggs and a small box of fruit.

At 74, I'm still finding new adventures—not by climbing mountains or flying to Africa or climbing Machu Picchu, but by bringing home vegetables I've never cooked before. There's something lovely about discovering that an adventure can be as simple as a basket of chard, a handful of tiny turnips, and two grandsons willing to taste-test.

CONSTANT AGING

The Joy of Wearing the Same Thing

Maybe it’s from wearing a uniform for twelve years of Catholic school. It made getting ready for school so quick and easy and my babysitting money could be “fun” clothes. I just love having a capsule wardrobe for both summer and winter (before that was even a term!).

This morning I laughed when I asked Max to dress my Bitmoji (for a WLLO meme) in what I realized is... me. Khaki-and-white striped linen pants. White collared shirt. Iced coffee in hand. That's not just an outfit—it's practically my summer personality.

I love the luxury of fewer decisions. I don’t have to stand in front of the closet negotiating with hangers. At 74 I think I’ve earned the right to stop chasing trends and start embracing what makes me feel comfortable and confident.  It's about reaching into the closet, pulling out something that feels like yourself, and spending your energy on things that matter more...being UberGramma, volunteering, enjoying the family and so on.

The summer look has khaki striped linen pants, white linen pants and khaki cotton pants. I have several white shirts, one khaki and white striped shirt and one khaki shirt. For fancier events I have a white gauze long scarf and a light khaki long scarf.

As you may remember, hats are my secret weapon. They hide a bad hair day, shade my eyes, and distract from my “crinkles” and lack of makeup. (Kate came up with that term when she was little and didn’t want to kiss her Granny good night because she had crinkles” and I love that term better than wrinkles) I’ll take it. My past collection were cloche style hats with a 2” wide band of changeable burlap ribbon to contrast. This summer I tried a cabbie style hat from Maui days. A whole new look for my pointy head! One white, one khaki and one black for winter.

Style isn't about fooling anyone into thinking you're younger.  It's about feeling like yourself when you catch your reflection in a store window. I don't think, "I wish I looked younger” I think, "There's the lady in the hat.” And I'm perfectly happy to be her.

Maybe I should rename this blog to aging comfortably.

STAYCATION

 

Created by ChatGPT artist Max

The family is off to their annual vacation in Montana with Jesse's side of the family.  It's a tiny little town of less than 1,000 but do they go big for this national holiday!  A parade, a rodeo and real fireworks instead of drones.  Add to that the 4 wheel UTV (utility task vehicle), a dirt bike, rifles, ten acres to explore and a creek ... this tradition still appeals to teenagers.  

(This is about 1/3 of Seablush Natives)

As owners of a nursery, the parents have plant loving friends checking every other day (then even have someone to come to the condo to water.)

I look forward having the whole space to myself and having a few little projects.  So far, I have steam cleaned the oven, ran the dishwasher on "self clean" and have organized the kitchen counters.  Today's plan is to replenish herbs and spices and put them back in alphabetical order so I don't have to look through ten bottles (that never have the name in plain view)(I'm surprised I don't have carpal tunnel syndrome).

 

A new shelf for offering bread, bagels, English muffins and pastries.

New toy!  A bagel guillotine!  Because Costco bagels are SO MUCH BETTER but unsliced)

Today's project

The laundry is caught up and I bleached my summer whites and WOW I needed sunglasses to hang them to finish drying!

I made a little coffee nook on the patio

Some nights I have a nice sit down dinner with orange dijon mustard chicken skewer, half an ear of corn and a caprese salad.  Last night I had brie, baguette and cantaloupe.  And champagne!

The dare devils + cousin

   

I hope you had a Happy Fourth of July no matter what you did!

How I Spent My Saturday Morning

I had plans. Really. Sleep in. Read an extra online paper. Sip an iced coffee and half of another. Maybe even do something fun.

Instead, I spent my Saturday morning becoming an amateur paralegal. You know those companies that proudly put "Technology" in their name? Apparently, technology no longer includes answering a telephone. Or accepting an email with an attachment.

Several months ago, I canceled an Uber One membership that Mr. 12 accidentally opened. Not only did I cancel it, Uber actually sent me an email saying they had canceled it. Their exact words?

"You will not be charged moving forward."

Excellent! Case closed. Except...

April: Charged.
May: Charged.
June: Charged.
July: Charged.   

Apparently "moving forward" and I have very different definitions. Being the retired office manager that I am, I did what any reasonable person would do.

I made copies. I highlighted bank statements. I printed the cancellation email. I labeled everything "Exhibit A," "Exhibit B," and so on.

At one point I realized I wasn't organizing paperwork anymore... I was building a legal brief.

Tomorrow's trip to the Post Office suddenly became much more exciting. Certified Mail. Return Receipt Requested.

It sounds like the title of an old detective movie.

Meanwhile, all I really wanted was to enjoy my Saturday morning with an iced coffee.

Instead, I now know more about consumer protection than I ever expected.

The good news? I'm pretty sure I have enough documentation to make a retired judge smile.

The bad news? I still don't have my Saturday morning back.

Maybe that's the real lesson about aging.

You finally have the time to relax...

...and corporations decide that's the perfect opportunity to give you a new hobby. Mine apparently is collecting evidence.

If you need me, I'll be at the Post Office on Monday.

Wish me luck. If my grandkids ever wonder what Gramma did in retirement, they should know I fought the good fight... armed with a highlighter, a stapler, and an iced coffee.